Apparatus for affixing pins to metal belts



Oct. 3, 1933.

w. E. WHITNEY ET AL APPARATUS FOR AFFIXING PINS To META-L BELTS FiledOct. 8, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 3, 1933. w. E. wHlTNr-:Sll ET ALAPPARATUS FOR AFFIXING PINSTO METAL BELTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 8,1929 0d. 3, 1933. w E, WHITNEY ET AL 1,928,714

APPARATUS FOR AFFIXING PINS TO METAL BELTS Filed Oct. 8, 1929 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 3, 1933. w. E. WHITNEY ET AL APPARATUS FOR AFFIXINGPINS TO METAL BELTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed 001'.. 8, 1929 Oct. 3, 1933.vwD E, WHITNEY ET AL 1,928,714

APPARATUS FOR AFFIXING PINS TO METAL BELTS A Filed oct. 8, 1929 5sheets-sheet 5 Patented Oct. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEAPPARATUS FOR AFFIXING P-INS T METAL BELTS Application October 8, 1929.Serial No. 398,262

l2 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for positioning andsoldering pins in a perforated metal belt or the like.

In the art of'making cinematographic films it is now comercial practiceto print the same by bringing a dye-wet matrix lm into surface contactwith a blank film to which the dye image of the matrix is transferred byimbibition. It is necessary to register the matrix film and blank filmaccurately and hold them nrmly in contact during the imbibltion step inorder to secure accurate transfer and clean cut images without blurring.For this purpose an endless traveling belt is employed having projectingpin's thereon which are 16 fixed at accurately' spaced intervals alongthe margins and which engage the sprocket holes in the margins of thematrix film and the blank hn and thus hldthem in exact registry and insuperposed face contact for the required time interval to effectcomplete and accurate imbibition of the dye by the blank film.

In order to carry out this procedure at a suitable speed, it will beobvious that a relatively long belt must be used. Consequently, thepositioning and nxing of a large number of projecting pins is involvedwhich takes it out of the category of hand operations on the ground ofeconomy. Moreover the pins must be accurately spaced and securely heldin position throughout the length of the belt without irregularities inthe same.

Accordingly an object of this invention is to provide a method ofsecurely positioning and atllxing suitable pins to a flexible metal beltand apparatus by which such method may be accom- 35. plishedautomatically. Other objects will appear from the following disclosure.

The method of the invention includes a preliminary preparation of a longflexible metal belt or strip (of approximately the width of the 40.cinema film and preferably made of monel or other non-corrosive metal)which is provided with one or more rows ofv perforations accuratelyspaced longitudinally of the belt and corresponding to the usual-sprocket holes in cinema films. The perforated belt, as thus obtained,is advanced intermittently inthe direction of its length by distancesequal'to the spacings between the successive perforations, while at eachstop a pin having a base and a tapered head is brought into registry andorientation with a perforation in the belt, and then inserted into theperforation; the pin and belt are then firmly seated by a sharp blow,the head of the pin is covered with a protective fluid, the base of thepin and the belt are treated with soldering fluid, and finally with acontinuous strip of solder, which may be applied to the base of the pinby passing over a free surface of molten solder.

Apparatus for accomplishing the method in a succession of stepsis-illustrated by the accoma0 panying drawings, in .which- Fig. 1 is afront view of the complete apparatus with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with auxiliary apparatus, on asomewhat reduced scale;

Fig 3 is a side view, partly in section, of the pin-feeding,positioning, and inserting mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a plan view, with parts broken away, of the mechanism shown inFig. 3

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section with parts broken away, of thepin-feeding, positioning and inserting mechanism shown in Fig. 3, priorto the introduction of a pin into the pin slot;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross section similar to 75 Fig. 5 showing the pinin the pin slot; and the pin-positioning device in advanced position;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross section as in Fig. 5, showing the pininserted into a perforation of the belt;

Fig. 8 is a side view and cross section of part of the pin-positioningmechanism as shown in Figs 3 to 7 and cam control for the same;

the pin in the belt, feeding the belt and applying a metal oxide depositthereon, and a cam for controlling the same;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged front view of the mechanism for feeding the belt,in retracted position;

Fig. 11 is the same as Fig. 10 with the feeding 90 mechanism in advancedposition;

Fig. 12 is a composite diagram of the several cams indicated in Figs. 3,4, 8 and 9;

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view of a device for applying solderingliquid to the under side of the belt and to the bases of the pins;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged side view and cross section. of a solder pot andheater, with parts broken away;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged plan view of a portion 100 of the finished belt;and

Fig. 16 is a cross section of the same on line 16-16 of Fig. 15.

In the operation of the apparatus, as shown generally in Figs. 1 and 2,the belt 1 passes from 105 a reel 2 at the right across the horizontaltable 3, and is taken up on reel 4 at the left-hand sidev of thedrawing. The pin feeding and positioning part of the device is indicatedat 5, the seating mechanism at 6, the belt-feed at 7, proa tective fluidapplicator at 8, drier at 9, compressed air apparatus at 10, acid pot at11, and solder pot at 12.

The perforated belt 1 is already provided with spaced perforations 13(Fig. 2) usually along both sides of the belt, each perforation has twostraight sides 15 at right angles to the margin of the belt and isrounded at the ends 15' (see Figs. 1 and 15).

The end of the belt is drawn from reel 2 and laid upon the table 3, oneof the perforations 13 being brought into registry with a round,vertical pin-slot 14 in the table 3 adjacent to the pin feedingmechanism 5 (see Figs. 3 to 7). The pin slot is of a diameter and shapeto receive the pin 16 (Figs. 5 to 7 and 16), which has a fiat,disc-shaped base 17 and a head 18, which is positioned centrally thereofand has flat sides 19, rounded ends 21, and tapered or rounded top 22.The horizontal crosssection of the pinhead corresponds accurately insize and shape to fit into the perforations 13 in the belt 1.

Slidably mounted in the pin slot 14 is a plunger 22 pivoted to lever 23which in turn is pivoted to bell crank arm 24 the opposite end of whichcarries a roller 26 engaging cam 27 on cam shaft 28. When the camsurface 29 engages the roller 26, the plunger 22 is in raised position(the pin being thrust through the belt 1 as shown in Fig. 7). As the camrotates in the direction of the arrow, face 31 retracts the plunger(against the tension of spring 32) tothe position shown in Fig. 5. Asthe roller rides up onto surface 33, the plunger is still furtherlowered to the position shown in Fig. 6. As the cam face 29 againengages the roller 26, the plunger is thrust upwardly to the position inFig. 7.

In sequence with such operations of the plunger 22, a continuous columnof pins 16 are fed to the pin slot 14, by means of a feed slot 34 (Fig.4) which is so shaped as to transfer a column of the pins in uprightposition from the cylindrical pin feed chamber 36 into the pin slotunder the impetus of compressed air introduced through pipe 37 and valve38 from compressed air tank 39 (Fig. 2) operated by motor 41 and pump42, to provide a suitable pressureas indicated by a gauge or othersuitable indicator 43. The pins 16 in the feed chamber 36 are agitatedby an oscillating arm 44 on an eccentric 46 driven as by belt 47 throughshaft 48 from motor 49, (Figs. 2 and 3) The cam shaft 28 is likewisedriven from motor 49 by worm gear connection with shaft 48 (not shown)and carries, beside cam 27, a face cam 51 (Figs. 2 and 4) engaging aroller 52 on one end of pivoted arm 53, the opposite end of whichcarries a V-shaped guide 54 entering the feed slot 34 at right angles,the point 56 of which is in position a (Fig. 4) and prevents furthermovement of pins 16 in the feed slot 34 when the roller 52 engages thelowest face 57. rides up upon the uppermost face 58 (as shown) the point56 is retracted to position b releasing the next pin 16' in feed slot 34(Fig. 7). Cams 27 and 51 are so mounted on shaft 28 that this movementoccurs while the plunger 22 is in raised position. The roller 52 nextengages face 59 and the point 56 is advanced to position c (Fig. 5) thusarresting pin 16 while receiving pin 16, between it and plunger 22. Asthe roller passes down onto face 57 the guide 54 advances and theslanting edge 61 forces the pin 16 into the pin slot 14 on top ofplunger 22, which at this As the roller` stage has been lowered to theposition shown in Fig. 6.

Simultaneously with or before this latter movement a U-shaped member 62(Figs. 4 to 7) which is slidably mounted in table 3 and has a slot 63therein adapted to receive the head 18 of the pin 16', is advanced intothe pin slot 14 as in Fig. 6, by means of an arm 64 and spring 65,actuated by cam 66 (likewise on shaft 28) as clearly shown in Fig. 8.Hence as the pin 16 is advanced into the pin slot 14, the fiat sides 19are at first guided by the sides of the feed slot 34 and are retained inthis position by the U- shaped guide 62 when it enters the round pinslot 14 upon the top of plunger 22. Upon rotation of cam 66 to theposition shown in Fig. 8, the U-shaped member is retracted from the pinslot.

The plunger 22 now rises (Figs. 3 and 7) and thrusts the pin 16 into thenext perforation 13 of the belt (which has meanwhile been advanced onespace by mechanism hereinafter to be described) thus bringing it intothe position occupied by the previous pin 16 as shown in Fig. 7.

A plate 67 may be fixed above the belt 1 as by clamp 68 (Fig. 2) to holdthe same rmly in position, as the pin 16' is inserted therethrough.

Mechanism for seating the inserted pin and also for advancing the belt1, is operated by cam 69 (Fig. 9) acting through roller 71 upon leverarm 72, the opposite end of which carries a rod 73 engaging acompression spring 74 (Fig. 1) As the roller 7l rides upl on the face 76the arm is raised against the spring 74, and as it rides down on to theface 77 the arm is brought down suddenly, not only by gravity but byactuation of the spring 74. The end of the arm carries a hammer 78,while a sldable anvil 79 is mounted therebeneath but above the line ofinserted pins 16 in the belt 1. The anvil is normally held in raisedposition by spring 8l and is also shaped, on its under surface, to fitover the head of the pin to strike the edges 15 and 15 of the belt 1surrounding it, and thus forces them against the base 17 (see Fig. 16)

Lever arm 72 also carries an oblique cam face 82 (Figs. 10 and 11)which, on descending, bears against a spring-pressed horizontal slide 83having a pawl 84 pivoted thereto. On the down stroke of the cam 82, theslide 83 is thrust to the left and the pawl 24 engages a pin 16 in thebelt 1 and advances it by a'distance equal to the spacing of thesprocket holes in which the pins are seated. The contacting portion ofslide 83 thereafter rides up onto the vertical face 86 of the cam sothat the lever arm may continue to descend without advancing the pawl 84(Fig. 1l). As the lever 72 rises, the pawl is retracted to the positionshown in Fig. 10, (riding freely over the next pin 16) by actuation ofthe spring 87 (Fig. 1). The upstanding arm 88 of the pawl permits manualoperation of the same, if necessary, to move the belt.

Likewise on lever arm 72 is mounted a vertical rod or plunger 89 (Figs.1 and 9) passing through a tank 92 (preferably containing an alcoholsuspension of zinc oxide) mounted on bracket 93. The end 94 of theplunger passes through the bottom of the tank and carries with it a dropof the liquid from the tank and applies it to the heads of the pins 16,beneath.

To the left of the apparatus thus described (as shown in Fig. 1) isprovided a blower consisting of a perforated pipe 96, leading from tank39 and mounted adjacent to the belt,which directs lili) a'blast of 'airthereon to evaporate the alcohol from the zinc oxide and leaves a thinbut uniform coating 95 of the latter covering the surfaces of the headsof the pins and of the belt (see Fig. 16).

The belt then passes over an acid pot 97 (Fig. 13) containing a'suitablesoldering lfluid which is applied to the bottom of the belt and to thebases of the pins by means of a roller 98 having a pair of flanges. 99contacting the belt 1 on either side of the row of pins 16 and anintermediate rubber roller 101, riding along the bases of thepins..

The belt then passes over the top of an open soldering pot 12,- (Fig.14)'the lip 102 of which stands slightlyhigher than the surface of table3 and, together with expansion eects due to the heat from the moltensolder, flexes the belt 1 upwardly. The pot is heated preferably by aresistance coil 106 surrounded by an insulating jacket 107, the heatbeing conducted to the solder 108 by means of a metal core 109 (Fig.14). The belt4 is wetted by the molten solder and acquires a uniformlayer 113; covering both the bottom surface of the belt and the bases ofthe pins (Fig. 16). From here the belt passes to the take-up reel 4 asabove described.

The belt 1 is held rmly to the table 3 as described and also by one-ormore spring-pressed rollers 111 and guide roller 112.

Thus the perforated belt is advanced intermittently across the table 3,pins 16 are fed adjacent thereto through the pin slot 14, in registrywith successive perforations 13 in the belt, oriented in conformity withthe perforation by slide 62, inserted therein by plunger 22, and firmlyseated in the belt by hammer 79 the heads then coated with a protectivelayer of zinc oxide suspension which is dried, the bases then being wetwith a soldering uid, and finally coated with a uniform layer of moltensolder which quickly solidifies, and the flnished belt is reeled up. Thezinc oxide powder is readily brushed off and the finished belt is readyfor use.

It is to be understood that the apparatus nerein disclosed for applyingpins successively to a single row of perforations may be duplicated ormultiplied, to apply and loffer pins to two or more rows of perforationssimultaneously. Other modifica'- tions and adaptations may be madewithin the contemplation of the invention and are to be considered asincluded by the following claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for afxing'v pins to a metal belt having a row of spacedperforations therein, comprising means for advancing the beltintermittently in thev direction of said row of perforations by adistance equal to the spacing of the perforations, means for feeding apin adjacent to said l belt, in registry with each successiveperforation,

means for orenting said pin with respect to said perforation, and meansfor inserting said pin into the corresponding perforation.

2. Apparatus for affixing pins to a metal belt having a row of spacedperforations therein, comprising means for advancing the beltintermittently in the direction of said row of perforations by adistance equal to the spacing of the perforations, means forsuccessively feeding pins into registry with successive perforations inthe belt, means for inserting the pins into the correspondingperforations, and means for seating the belt` firmly against eachinserted pin.

3. Apparatus for aixing pins to a metal belt having a row of spacedperforations therein,

comprising means for advancing the belt intermittently in the directionof said row of perforations by a distance equal to the spacing of theperforations, means for feeding a pin into registry with a perforationin the belt, means for inserting the pin into the correspondingperforation, means for applying a protective liquid upon the head ofsaid pin, means for applying a soldering compound to the base of saidpin, and means for applying solder to the bases of the pins.

4. Apparatus for afflxing pins to a metal belt having a row of spacedperforations containing pins passing therethrough, comprising means foradvancing the belt inthe direction of said row of perforations, meansfor applying a protective liquid to the heads of said pins, means forapplying a soldering solution to thel bases of said pins, and means forapplying solder to the bases of said pins.

5. Apparatus for aixing pins to a metal belt having a row of spacedperforations therein, comprising means for advancing the belt in thedirection of said row of perforations by a distance equal to the spacingof the perforations, means for feeding a pin to said belt in registrywith each successive perforation, means for orenting said pin withrespect to the belt, means for inserting said pin into its correspondingperforation, and means adapted to actuate each of said means inappropriate sequence each with the other. I

6. Apparatus for afixingpins to a metal belt having a row of spacedperforations therein, comprising means for advancing the belt in thedirection of said row of perforations by a distance equal to the spacingof the perforations, means for feeding a pin to said belt in registrywith each successively positioned perforation, means for intermittentlychecking subsequent pins in said pin feeding means, and means forinserting said pin into the corresponding perforation in the belt.

7. Apparatus for aflixing pins to a metal belt having a row of spacedperforations therein, comprising means for advancing the belt in thedirection of said row of perforations by a distance equal to the spacingof theperforations, means for feeding a pin to said belt in registrywith each successively positioned perforation, means for intermittentlychecking subsequent pins in said pin feeding means, and means forinserting said pin into the corresponding perforation in the belt, andmeans adapted to actuate each of said means in appropriate sequence,each to the other.

8. Apparatus for affxing pins to a metal belt having a row of spacedperforations therein, comprising means for advancing the belt in thedirection of said row of perforations by a distance equal to the spacingof the perforations, means for feeding a pin to said belt in registrywith each successively positioned perforation, means for intermittentlychecking subsequent pins in said pin feeding means, means for orentingsaid pin with respect to the perforation, and means adapted to actuateeach of said means in appropriate sequence, each to the other.

9. Apparatus for aixing pins having a base and a fiat-sided head to ametal belt having a row of spaced perforations therein, comprising meansfor advancing the belt in the direction of said row of perforations by adistance equal to the spacing of the perforations, a pin slot adjacentto said belt adapted to feed apin to said belt in registry with saidperforation, a feed slot entering said pin slot and adapted to guide acolumn of pins thereto, a V-shaped guide entering said feed slot adaptedintermittently to release a pin in said column and to advance the sameinto said pin slot and check succeeding pins in said column, a guidemember adapted intermittently to enter said pin slot in advance of thepin to orient the attened head of said pin with respect to theperforation in the belt, a plunger in the pin slot, adapted to insertthe pin into the registered perforation in the belt, and means adaptedto actuate each of said means in proper sequence of operations.

10. Apparatus for afilxing pins having a base and a fiat-sided head to ametal belt having a row of spaced perforations therein, comprising meansfor advancing the belt in the direction of said row of perforations by adistance equal to the spacing of the perforations, a pin slot adjacentto said belt adapted to feed a pin to said belt in registry with saidperforation, a feed slot entering said pin slot and adapted to guide acolumn of pins thereto, a V-shaped guide entering said feed slot adaptedintermittently to release a pin in said column and to advance the sameinto said pin slot and check succeeding pins in said column, a guidemember adapted intermittently to` enter said pin slot in advance of thepin to orient the flattened head of said pin with respect to theperforation in the belt, a plunger in the pin slot, adapted to insertthe pin into the registered perforation in the belt, means for seatingthe inserted pin in said belt, and means adapted to actuate each of saidmeans in proper sequence of operations.

11. Apparatus for afflxingA pins having a base and a flat-sided head toa metal belt having a row of spaced perforations therein, comprisingmeans for advancing the belt in the direction of said row ofperforations by a distance equal to the spacing of the perforations, apin slot adjacent to said belt adapted to feed a pin to said belt inregistry with said perforation, a feed slot entering said pin slot andadapted to guide a column of pins thereto, a V-shaped guide enteringsaid feed slot adapted intermittently to release a pin in said column,and to advance the same into said pin slot and check succeeding pins insaid column, a guide member adapted intermittently to enter said pinslot in advance of the pin to orient the flattened head of said pin withrespect to the perforation in the belt, a plunger in the pin slot,adapted to insert the pin into the registered perforation in the belt)means for applying a protective coating to the upper end of the pin, tothe base of the pin, and means adapted to actuate each of said means inproper sequence of operations. v

12. Apparatus for afllxing pins having a base and a flat-sided head to ametal belt having a row of spaced perforations therein, comprising meansfor advancing the belt in the direction of said row of perforations by adistance equal to the spacing of the perforatians, a pin slot adjacentto said belt adapted to feed a pin to said belt in registry with saidperforation, a feed slot entering said pin slot and adapted to guide acolumn of pins thereto, a V-shaped guide entering said feed slot adaptedintermittently to release a pin in said column and to advance the sameinto said pin slot and check succeeding pins in said column, a guidemember adapted intermittently to enter said pin slot in advance of thepin to orient the flattened head of said pin with respect to theperforation in the belt, a plunger in the pin slot, adapted to insertthe pin into the registered perforation in the belt, and means adaptedto actuate each of said means in proper sequence of operations, meansfor applying a soldering liquid and means for applying molten solder tothe base and periphery of the pin.

WILLIAM E. WHITNEY. ERNEST A. GALLISON.

